Welcome to the Chairman’s home page. With the Player’s putting on a David Jones production of Jack and the Beanstalk I thought it might be appropriate to reflect on the past here.

1966 was famous for two things – something happened in Football if I recall, which may never occur again, and the St Nicholas Players put on their January production of Jack and the Beanstalk!!

R. Stanley Griffith and Philip Mason produced the pantomime. It was the player’s third production; it had a large cast including thirty-six children “ Reflecting the players policy of encouraging the younger members of the church and community to take part.” –A tradition which we proudly maintain thankfully!!

It’s also wonderful to see that the players were very focused in supporting and sharing any proceeds from the production with local charities. The programme states - “Donations exceeding £150 were made to church funds and charities and the players were happy to send £10 to the mayor of Derby’s Flood relief Fund! Thankfully this ethos remains today, the players still share their proceeds with the church and local children’s charities – it’s just the amounts that have changed!!

The 1966 production had some wonderful scene titles. The synopsis of scenes in the programme includes; Maggie Trott’s Bower, Squire Dead Legs Dairy, The Village of Milk- on –the –Turn, and Castle Calamity!!   Some ideas here for the 2007 production I think? There are also some familiar names in the cast. Check out the photographs on this page, many of the 66 cast are still involved in the Players today – they have just ‘matured’ a little!!

Betty Burton played Nanny.

Connie Mason played Jack

Bill Burton was Maggie Trott

Linda Wride played Jill

Sue Young played Perryn

Kathryn Mason played Henrietta

Gillian by Elizabeth Mason

Jersey the cow played by Philip Jefferies and Brenda Watkins

 Margaret Ash  played Fairy Fortune

Gordon Hobday played Squire Dead Legs 

This is but to name a few , the full cast can be seen in the scanned copy of the programme here .

In the acknowledgements I have to note the thanks to Spondon Caravan Centre for the free loan of two caravans that were used to supplement dressing accommodation. I guess we didn’t have the luxury of the 151st Scout Headquarters then? The dashes to the stage in the cold and pouring rain must have added to the pantomime fun here!!

The souvenir programme in 1966 cost 6d – that’s 2.5 pence to those of you who never experienced pre decimalisation!! A great night out here on Half a Crown and still change for a pint  and a bag of crisps  at the Markeaton Hotel afterwards!!

I hope that those of you who can recall the 1966 production enjoy looking at the photographs here. Thanks to Phil Mason here for his archives of Pantomimes over the past 40 years.

I hope you will enjoy our 2007 production of Jack and the Beanstalk and I look forward to your continued support

Regards

Ady Pratt – Chairman, St Nicholas Players